Controlling valve for liquid pressure control systems



Dec. 26, 1939.

E. C. S. CLENCH CONTROLLING VALVE FOR LIQUID PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEMS Filed Aug. 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l' w li 30 Q s a Q &

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, 6 izqnzeg- Dec. 26, 1939. Eras. CLENCH 2,184,793

. CONTROLLING VALVE FOR LIQUID RRESSURE CONTROL SYS TEMS I FiledAug. 1a, 1937 s SheetsSheet 2 I I nvni'cr. I.

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.- Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNl'l'li-DSTATES CONTROLLING VALVE FOR mourn rnnsv v SURE CONTROL SYSTEMS Edward Claude Shakespeare Clench, Leamington Spa, England, assignor to Automotive Prodnets Company Limited, London, England Application August 18,1937, Serial No. 159,808 I r In Great Britain August 20, 1936 8 Claims. (Cl. 137-139).

This invention relates to controlling valves for liquid pressure remote control systems and is particularly adapted for but not limited to the operation of landing gear, wing flaps, bomb re-' a fluid pressure control system comprising a valve, wherein a manual actuating member for the valve may be releasably locked in on or open position, and wherein means is provided for automatically'bringing the actuating member to the off or closed position when the pressure of the fluid admitted through the valve overcomes the resistance of the locking means.

The improved valve which is used for controlling the delivery of liquid from a transmitter pump to a motor unit is arranged so that it is automatically reverted to its off condition when the pressure of liquid fed to the motor unit exceeds a predetermined value.

The improved arrangement is particularly useful in connection with motor cylinder units, whereof the pistons or equivalent have two main working positions, namely one at each end of their normal range of movement. I

When the control valve is placed in its on" position, thus placing the motor unit in com- T munication with a continuously operating transmitter pump, the delivery of pressure liquid from the transmitter pump to the motor unit proceeds to change the setting of the latter, and when for a liquid pressure remote control system incorporating a valve plunger with manual actu- 45 ating means, and with a device whereby an increase in the pressure of the liquid passing through said valve automatically actuates the valve plunger so as to interrupt the supply of pressure liquid to the motor unit.

- 50 The invention further provides a control valve for a liquid pressure remote control system comprising a plurality of valve plungers which are actuated by corresponding manual levers to control a series of pipe lines which feed pressure 55 liquid from a transmitter pump to corresponding motor cylinder units, the invention being characterized by the fact that, at the end of the permissiblestroke of the piston or equivalent of each motor unit the corresponding valve plunger is returned automatically by the liquid pres- 6 sure to its off "position, in which it connects with a liquid reservoir, the pipe line or lines leading to said motor unit, the output of the transmitter pump being also, if desired, placed into communication with the reservoir by the 10 automatic action of the valve.

Further, the improved liquid pressure remote control system in its double-acting form may incorporate a control valve of the plunger type arranged to place either one of the pipe lines lead- 15 ing to opposite ends of the motor unit into communication, either with a reservoir or with a pressure-creating transmitter unit, means being incorporated which automatically render the transmitter unit ineifectual and which place 20 both of the motor unit pipe lines into communication with the reservoir in the event of the pressure of the working liquid being fed to the motor unit rising above a predetermined value.

Other objects and features of the invention 25 and other novel combinations pfupartsl-and de-' sirable particular constructions will be apparent from the following description and from'the accompanying drawings which show one particular construction of valve controlling three separate motor units or sets of motor units, and in which Figure 1 is a side sectional elevation taken on the line l-l of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a front elevation; 85

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the connections within the control valve, and indicating the associated parts of the complete remote control 40 system.

The body of the control valve shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises threemain parts, a central housing III, a front portion H and a rear portion l2 secured together as by nuts and bolts I3. The housing III is formed with three longitudinal ,bores, only one of which is shown at I 4 in Figure 1, said bores being arranged side i by side inparallel formation and being all of identical construction. Each accommodates slidably a substantially cylindrical valve plunger l5 i which is formed adjacent its front and rear ends with waist portions l6 and I1 respectively, while its central part is reduced in diameter'for a substantial length as indicated at l8. These waistter of the bore 22 is appreciably larger than that,

of the bore |4 in the housing l0, and this results in the formation of an annular working space 24, the volume of which varies according to the position of the plunger l5. A similar construction is employed at the front end of each plunger l5, a pair of claws I9 being arranged to engage a front piston 25 in a slightly loose manner so as to enable the two parts to slide freely within their respective bores should there be any slight inaccuracy in machining.

The piston 25 has a cup-shaped extension 26 and these two parts slide within a cylindrical bore 21 formed in the front portion said extension 26 being fitted with an eye 28 connected by a pair of pivotal links 29 with the lower end 30 of an operating lever 3|. It will be noted from Figure 2 that three such levers are provided, the outside two being indicated at 3|a and 3|b respecti ely, said levers being fitted at their upper ends with corresponding knobs 32, 32a and 32b which are different in shape 'so as to be readily distinguishable by touch. The three levers are pivoted at 33 upon a forward extension 34 of the front portion II, and each is shaped with a cam surface 35 which is engaged by a follower roller 36 fitted to a plunger 31 slidably mounted within a bore 38 in the front portion Thisbore 38 contains also a relatively strong coiled compression spring 39 having an end cap 40 against which anadjusting screw is arranged to bear for the purpose of regulating the normal compression force exerte by the spring 39. It will be seen that the cam surface 35 has its central portion slightly V-shaped thus enabling the spring 39 to centralise the lever 3| and consequently the plunger l5, as will appear more fully hereinafter. At each end, however, the camsurface 35 is formed with a notch 4| and 42 corresponding with the extreme right and extreme left positions respectively of the valve plunger l5. The cam surface 35 is thus undulating in form, and is designated to constitute a non-positive locking means for the lever 3|.

Thus, when the lever 3| is moved forwardly,.

i. e. to the right in Figure 1, the follower roller 36 engages with the notch 42 at the end of this movement with suflicient force to enable this setting of the valve plunger l5to be maintained.

When, as will be explained in further detail due to the increase in pressure developed by a pump as 46 on arresting of the piston 41 for example of the motor unit, sufiicient effort is applied to the lever 3|, the roller 36 mounts up the side of the notch 42, and once again causes the lever ponents of the remote control system are formed by drilling passages in the housing It, and these can be readily followed by a comparison between Figures 1, 3 and the diagramFigure 4, whichis intended to show diagrammatically the various ports and passages and provide a general lay. out which permits the operation of the system to be more completely followed. The external components of the system comprise a reservoir 44, a uni-directional mechanical pump 45 which is continuously driven by an engine or any other suitable means, a uni-directional hand pump 46 and-three double-acting motor units or sets of motor units which are indicated diagram matically at 41, 41a and 41b (Figure 4), the pistons or equivalent of said motor units being operatively connected to a device to be operated.

A union 48 (Figure 2) connects by way of a vertical passage (not shown) with a horizontal passage 49 which intersects the three bores which areindicated at M, Ma, and MD in Figure 4, and, of course, correspond in form to the bore l4 in Figure l; the motor unit 41 is connected with the valve by means of a pair of unions shown at 50 and 5| in Figure 1 and these communicate with ports 52 and 53 respectively terminating in the bore l4. In each case, an auxiliary passage 54 and 55 respectively enters the bore |4 adjacent the waist portion l8 of the plunger 5, while further passages 56 and 51 respectively communicate with the annular working spaces 43 and 24 respectively.

As the constructional details of the three plungers are identical, similar features are shown tion, the plunger |5 in the extreme left and the plunger |5a in the extreme right position.

A pair of transverse passages 58 and 59 communicate with ports 60 and 6| diametrically opposite to the ports 52 and 53 respectively, and these two passages 58 and 59 are connected together by a longitudinal bore 62 shown in Figure 3. This is fed with pressure liquid, either from the mechanical pump 45, through a union 63 having a non-return ball valve 64, or else from the hand pump 46 through a union 65 having a non-return valve 66. The passage 62 also communicates by way of an oblique passage 61 (Figure 3) with a transverse passage 68 (Figures 1, 3 and 4), which also intersects the three plunger bores I4, I41; and 14b. The passage '68 is positioned in line with the waist portions l1,

l'la and llb when the plungers are in their off" positions, 1. e. the position of valve plunger |5b Figure' i, and is connected by a longitudinal passage 69 (see Figure 4) with the union 48 and thence by a conduit 10 with the reservoir 44. The motor unit 41 is connected by conduits 1| and 12 with the unions 50 and 5| respectively, while the connections to the motor units 41a and 4'") are correspondingly indicated in Figure 4.

The operation of the wholesystem is as follows. With all the plungers of the control .valve disposed in their 0if" positions, that'is in the position in which the valve plunger .i5b is shown in Figure 4, the waisted portions I1, 'lla and Nb are all disposedin line with the passage 68 as shown by the dotted lines in respect of plungers l5 and |5a, thus connecting-the delivery of the pump 45 (or the hand pump 46 if it is working) into direct communication with the reservoir through passages 68, 69 and conduit 10. At the Illa-12b from each motorunitare connected also with the reservoir by way of the passage 49 and conduit 10. .As shown in Figure 4 both of the conduits 11b, 12b communicate through the branch passages 54b and 5512 with the passage 49. As the plungers never move by an amount sufllclent to interrupt the passage 49, those motor cylinder units which are not operative at any particular moment have both conduits automatically connected to the reservoir for breathing in order to compensate for leakage and for expansion and contraction on account of temperaturechanges.

When one of the plungers is' moved to the left to its on" position in which the plunger lis shown in Figure 4 the branch 54 is isolated from j the reservoir, and at the same time the passage 68 is blocked owing to the new positions occupied by the waist portions l8 and II respectively. At the same time the pressure liquid in the passage 62 is allowed topass into the conduit II by way of the annular space surrounding the waist portion l6, thus permitting the actuating of the motor .unit 41 to take place in the direction of the arrow A, the liquid ejected into the conduit I2 being returned to the reservoir through the conduit 12, branch passage 55, bore l4, passage 49 and conduit 10. When the piston of the motor unit-4! reaches the'end of itsstrokeand can move no further the pressure of the liquid in the conduit H and in the passage 58,auto-, matically increases as the pump 45 continues to run, and as this pressure is: communicated through the conduit H and passage 56 to the working space 43 the piston 25 is automatically moved to the right as soon as the effort derived from the pressure liquid is sufliciently strong to overcome the coiled compression spring 3 9 and allow the roller 36 to ride up out of the notch 42. Once this movement has been started the shape of the cam surface 35 causesthe lever 3| and the plunger 15 to be centralised, even after thesupply of pressure liquid to the space 43 has.

been cut off.

In order to actuate any one of the motor units in the opposite direction the appropriate plunger l5, I5a or [5b is moved to the right and 00- cupies the position in which the plunger l5a is shown in Figure 4. This again causes the passage 68 to be blocked, and liquid under pressure is, therefore, fed to the conduits 12a through passage 59 and also into the working space 24a through passage 5la., When the pressure automatically rises after arresting at the top of its stroke of the piston of motor unit 41a (Figure 4).

the valve plunger l5a 'is returned to its off position as heretofore explained with respect to valve plunger l5. The control valve may, of course, be constructed in several difierent ways to work in accordance with the invention, and moreover such control valves can be used with numerous forms of remote control system including those-of the singleacting variety. Moreover, other pressure-sensitive devices may be employed for automatically returning the control valve or a part thereof to ranged in other ways to obtain the same eflfect,

and means other than the cam and follower mechanismmay be employed to hold the plunger in its end positions and to assist in returning it to the central positionwhen the operation is completed,

Whilst one embodiment of-theinvention has been illustrated and described it is to be particularly understood that that embodiment is to be considered as exemplary and not limitative and that the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the varioiis features of the invention, what Ivclaim as new and desire to sure by Letters Patent is:

1. A control valve for a fluid pressure control system comprising a cylindrical chamber, a valve plunger'in the chamber controlling the flow of fluid through said valve, an actuating member operating said plunger, means for locking the actuating member in either of two on positions,

and means for automatically bringing the actuatin'g member into an oif position intermediate said two on" positions when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of said locking means.

2. A control valve for a fluid pressure control system comprising a cylindrical chamber, a valve plunger itithe chamber controlling the flow of 'fluid through said valve, an actuating member operating said plunger, means for locking the actuating member in either of two on positions, and means for automatically bringing the actuating member into an ofi" position intermediate said two "on positions when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of said locking means, 'said locking means being further effective to lock the actuating -member in said oh position.

3. A control valve for a fluid pressure control system comprising a cylindrical chamber having ports therein, a valve plunger in the chamber controlling the flow of fluid through said ports, anactuating member operating the said plunger, means for locking-the actuating member in either of 'two on"- positions, means for auto:

'matically bringing the actuating member into an ofi" position intermediate said two on" positions when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of said locking means, and means for maintaining communication between said chamber ports when said actuating member. is in the off position.

4. A control valve for a fluid pressure control system comprising a cylindrical chamber having ports therein, a valve plunger in the chamber controlling the flow of fluid through said ports, an actuating member operating the said plunger, means for locking the actuating member in either of two on positions, means for automatically bringing the actuating member into an ofi position intermediate said two on" positions when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of the locking means, said locking means being into an off position intermediate said two on positions when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of the locking means.

6. A control valve for a fluid pressure control system comprising a chamber, a valve movable in the chamber to control the flow of fluid therethrough, an actuating member operating said valve, means for locking the actuating member in the off and on positions respectively, and means for automatically bringing the actuating member into 03" position when the pressure of the fluid overcomes the resistance of the looking means, said locking means comprising a' cam surface on the actuating member having a central wide notch and a narrow notch arranged at each side of the central notch, and a spring loaded member cooperating with the said cam surface and engaged in the central notch in the normal position of the actuating member, or in any of said narrow notches in the respectiveon position of said actuating member, said cam surface being adapted under the action of the pressure fluid to ride upon the spring loaded member to disengage it from the respective narrow notch and thus unlock the actuating member from its on" position and engage said spring loaded member into the wide notch and thus lock the actuating member in the 0135 position.

7. A control valve having a pair of ports and a valve plunger cooperating with said ports to establish communication therebetween in normal (ofl") position of the plunger, a third port through which fluid is directed when the plungeris set in one on position, a fourth port through which fluid is directed when the plunger is set in another on position, and means actuated by 6 communication with the annular chamber formed by the said plunger in all positions thereof, including neutral and also including any of two on positions, each of which latter positions excludes one of said pair of ports from communication with said third port, means for locking said plunger in each on" position, said locking means 2 including a plunger actuating member having a detent engageable therewith, yielding means-act ing upon said detent, and means for returning the actuating member to the position corresponding to neutral position of the plunger as the 25 fluidpressure overcomes the resistance of said I yielding means.

EDWARD CLAUDE SHAKESPEARE CLENCH. 

